DROPPED TWO IN THE OPENING ACT: The Portland Sea Dogs and Reading Phillies continue their four-game series on Friday night at First Energy Stadium in Reading, PA…Reading swept an Opening-Day doubleheader from the Sea Dogs, taking game one 4-2 and the nightcap 7-4…In the opener, Leandro Castro blasted a two-run, walk-off homer off losing pitcher Caleb Clay…In game two, Reading scored seven times off starter Chris Martin (0-1), and received 2 RBI from Castro and Cesar Hernandez…Juan Linares went 5-for-7 in the twinbill for Portland, and homered to lead off game two…Ryan Dent had 3 hits (HR) in the opener.

LET’S START THE SHOW: The Sea Dogs are now 9-10 All-Time in season openers, including a 1-2 record against Reading on Opening Day the past three year…Portland’s home opener is April 12th against the Binghamton Mets…The Sea Dogs have dropped 56 of 94 games in their franchise history aft First Energy Stadium/

INTRODUCING THE TEAM + ONE: Eastern League rosters expanded to 25 players this season from the maximum of 24 last year…Portland has 18 players, who spent time in the Maine last season and one on Boston’s 40-man roster: Oscar Tejeda started in left field last night in game two, his first career appearance in the outfield (513 previous appearances as an INF or DH)…RHP Billy Buckner is the only Sea Dog with Major League experience, accumulating 36 appearances with Arizona and Kansas City…RHP Aaron Kurcz was part of the Theo Epstein compensation, and will be part of Portland’s bullpen.

NEW ADDITION TO THE STAFF: Kevin Boles returns to Portland for his second season as manager of the Sea Dogs…Boles served as the Portland bullpen catcher in 1997, and his father John Boles is a member of the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame…Hitting coach Dave Joppie and Pitching coach Bob Kipper return to Portland…The Sea Dogs have a new training staff: Head Athletic Trainer Brandon Henry,Assistant Trainer: Darren Yoos and Strength and Conditioning Coach: Drew Henley…Henley is the first Strength and Conditioning coach in franchise history.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The four-game series in three days ends tomorrow night at 6:05 PM…Portland is off for Easter Sunday, and continues their opening roadtrip of the season on Monday night in Trenton (Yankees affiliate)…The two teams will conclude the series on Wednesday morning beginning at 10:35 AM.

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